Code Red at the BPC Fitness Center
August 10, 2009
I realize that in the military individuals must concentrate on correct procedure and it is practiced for legitimate reasons. BUT….There comes a time when common sense and situational circumstances override “by the book” syndrome. Is this an indicator of something even bigger?
Here we go: Case #1. A few weeks back, I’m working out at the fitness center, walk by the gymnasium, and notice there’s a volleyball game going on when I walk by. About 15 minutes into my workout I notice firemen going into the gym in the full firefighter attire. WTF? Anyway, I see a guy I work with standing outside and ask him what’s going on. He says there’s some guy laid out on the floor. I’m thinking my head ”Damn, must be serious!”. Back to my workout and I notice Paramedics also rushing in. Holy sh!t, this is serious. I continue on and see them wheeling the guy out on a stretcher. I go back out and ask my buddy what happened, he looks at me smiles and says “SPRAINED ANKLE”.
Case #2. Finished up my leg workout and decided to shoot a few hoop to loosen up my legs afterwards. Also, I hadn’t played in 7 years and embarrassed myself the week before, but I must keep the story on track. Anyway, I go to sign out a basketball and there’s a dude at the desk with some semi-used bandages on the counter. There is some blood on them, but it’s not a slaughterhouse or anything. The chick behind the counter looks and me and asks me if I think he needs stitches? I lean over check it out and see that a little, and I mean little, chunk of the pad of his finger has been nicked. Probably caught it between some plates, dumbbells, or possibly sticking where it shouldn’t have been on a machine. I say “No”, you just need to keep pressure on it. Tough guy pipes up and says they’ve had it on there for 15 minutes. I’m about ready to call him a p_$$y, but decide to just let it go. Still waiting for a B-Ball when she gets on the phone to most likely the ER and tells them the gruesome story. Whatever, I head to the gym (oops, that where they keep the balls) and shoot around for the next 15-20 minutes. On my way out I notice the guy stepping into the back of an AMBULANCE WITH THE LIGHTS ON. I start dying laughing intentionally loud enough so the guy can hear me. The clinic is probably 300m down the road and they send an ambulance for an Oww-ie.
I start thinking about this B.S. later in the night. This seems to be leading to a disturbing trend. The military ER’s are packed with overprotective mothers and wussies that don’t know what really getting hurt is. Cough… ER; sprained ankle… ER; headache… ER, then people end up b!th!ing to their Commanders that the ER takes too long when we encourage them to go there. After all, the only other option is scheduling an appt 10 days later. Bigger picture…Universal healthcare. Is it needed? Yep, I personally have friends in the Service industry that work a 40 hr week and can’t afford to get treatment. BUT, is the military health care system just a small portrait of the big picture down the road?
BTW - This isn’t a political statement. What started out as a rambling to make fun of people and the funky system, ended up as something a little different. Whatever, if you’re reading my ramblings for some deep meaning, you’ve got more issues than the guy with the oww-ie.
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